Warriors Sweep Elims In OT
A Pumaren just made history. Dindo did just what older brother Franz could not achieve when University of the East swept De La Salle University, 92-84, on September 13 at the Araneta Coliseum. And if this happened in the last millennium, the Red Warriors would have been automatic champions instead of having to grab two more wins to become one.
UE took the fight out of the Green Archers in overtime as they kept on pounding until the final buzzer. Mark Fampulme’s jump shot from a Rudy Lingganay entry pass, 1:36 of extension, typified the Warriors’ dominance with the big man flexing his muscles in front of the East crowd after making the basket.
“The way they were playing, iba kumpiyansa ng mga bata,” Pumaren praised his wards. “Iba na. Maturity na nandoon.”
Hans Thiele led the Warriors with 16 points and 16 rebounds, nine coming from the offensive end. James Martinez had an output of 13, making 3/7 from beyond the arc.
“I am so proud of the boys. (Thiele) made the key points,” Pumaren mentioned. “Puro post na kami noong fourth quarter. Nawala na malalaki nila.”
Mark Borboran and Marcy Arellano combined for 22 markers, 17 boards, and seven assists. Pari Llagas and Kelvin Gregorio notched ten each.
Jvee Casio fouled out with 22 points on 8/13 shooting, six rebounds, and five assists on 35 minutes. TY Tang had 16 and eight feeds, while Bader Malabes scored 12.
The brothers Pumaren had a light moment after the game.
“We embraced pa nga,” Dindo shared. “Nag-good luck siya.”
East’s last championship appearance was on 1990, coincidentally against the Green Archers.
“We are preparing for the finals. Kalahati pa lang ito,” Pumaren foresighted. “Wala pa itong sweep na ito. Ang goal ng school ay championship.”
The wrestling match was on as Brian Ilad scored a sucker punch on Fampulme after the big Warrior and Rico Maierhofer held a staredown in front of the DLSU bench at the :55.1 mark of the first quarter, the game tied at 16-all.
The Recto-based squad then went on to score the final six points of the period, later extending it to a nine-point advantage with Arellano scoring off an and-one sequence against Ferdinand, 6:33 of the second, 32-23.
De La Salle then had a 19-2 eruption with Casio putting the cherry with a three-pointer, 42-34, two and a half remaining. However, the red and white once again had a six-point spurt in the end courtesy of a Paul Lee putback, an Elmer Espiritu triple, and a Borboran split from the freethrow line.
“To be honest noong second quarter, nagka-run sila puro three-points,” the younger Pumaren exclaimed. “I told them to extend out, lalo na kay Casio. Nahirapan sila (Archers).”
The Taft-based squad turned it into a seven-point game, three and a half remaining in the third with Kish Co completing a steal, handing an outlet pass to Cholo Villanueva, who finished with an incomplete three-point play against Espiritu, 60-53. The Warriors then scored five straight all coming from the freethrow line to come closer.
Casio showed how it is to beat the buzzer with time to spare with a four-point lead going into the final ten minutes, 62-58.
Martinez converted a four-point play off Malabes, for a five-point bubble, 69-64, the largest gap either squad would have before UE’s breakaway in the extension period. Lee’s layup off a Fampulme screen was the final instance of a five-point lead, 77-72, 1:23.
The Archers then gradually ate up the buffer with James Mangahas finding PJ Walsham wide open inside after grabbing Tang’s missed three, 76-77, :35.4 to go.
“Namili ako if I am going to gamble (with a timeout),” Pumaren discussed. “Talagang sa amin. May tulong sa taas. Sa lahat pa nang nagmintis, si Casio.”
Casio had a chance to win it for his team, but he flubbed his first free try to tie the game up, :03.5 to go. Arellano committed an inbounds violation to give the Archers one more crack but Casio’s pass to Maierhofer went wayward as Arellano’s desperation at the buzzer went nowhere near the goal.
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